
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC1395b-5]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                       CHAPTER 7--SOCIAL SECURITY
 
        SUBCHAPTER XVIII--HEALTH INSURANCE FOR AGED AND DISABLED
 
Sec. 1395b-5. Beneficiary incentive programs


(a) Repealed. Pub. L. 105-33, title IV, Sec. 4311(b)(2), Aug. 5, 1997, 
        111 Stat. 386

(b) Program to collect information on fraud and abuse

                    (1) Establishment of program

        Not later than 3 months after August 21, 1996, the Secretary 
    shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall encourage 
    individuals to report to the Secretary information on individuals 
    and entities who are engaging in or who have engaged in acts or 
    omissions which constitute grounds for the imposition of a sanction 
    under section 1320a-7, 1320a-7a, or 1320a-7b of this title, or who 
    have otherwise engaged in fraud and abuse against the Medicare 
    program under this subchapter for which there is a sanction provided 
    under law. The program shall discourage provision of, and not 
    consider, information which is frivolous or otherwise not relevant 
    or material to the imposition of such a sanction.

             (2) Payment of portion of amounts collected

        If an individual reports information to the Secretary under the 
    program established under paragraph (1) which serves as the basis 
    for the collection by the Secretary or the Attorney General of any 
    amount of at least $100 (other than any amount paid as a penalty 
    under section 1320a-7b of this title), the Secretary may pay a 
    portion of the amount collected to the individual (under procedures 
    similar to those applicable under section 7623 of the Internal 
    Revenue Code of 1986 to payments to individuals providing 
    information on violations of such Code).

(c) Program to collect information on program efficiency

                    (1) Establishment of program

        Not later than 3 months after August 21, 1996, the Secretary 
    shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall encourage 
    individuals to submit to the Secretary suggestions on methods to 
    improve the efficiency of the Medicare program.

              (2) Payment of portion of program savings

        If an individual submits a suggestion to the Secretary under the 
    program established under paragraph (1) which is adopted by the 
    Secretary and which results in savings to the program, the Secretary 
    may make a payment to the individual of such amount as the Secretary 
    considers appropriate.

(Pub. L. 104-191, title II, Sec. 203, Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 1998; 
Pub. L. 105-33, title IV, Sec. 4311(b)(2), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 386.)

                       References in Text

    The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is 
classified generally to Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of the Health Insurance Portability and 
Accountability Act of 1996, and not as part of the Social Security Act 
which comprises this chapter.


                               Amendments

    1997--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-33 struck out heading and text of 
subsec. (a). Text read as follows: ``The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (in this section referred to as the `Secretary') shall provide 
an explanation of benefits under the Medicare program under this 
subchapter with respect to each item or service for which payment may be 
made under the program which is furnished to an individual, without 
regard to whether or not a deductible or coinsurance may be imposed 
against the individual with respect to the item or service.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 1395b-2 of this title.
